Coin-controlled compressed air dispenser



Sept. 28, 1965 COIN-CONTROLLED COMPRESSED AIR DISPENSER Filed Feb. 18, 1964 W. E. AN SON 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIII FIG-l INVENTOR.

WlLLlAM E. AN SON.

anmyfd ATTORNEYS Sept. 28, 1965 w. E. ANSON 3,208,574

COIN-CONTROLLED COMPRESSED AIR DISPENSER Filed Feb. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0e F f\ 7L- I va We 1 /30 L... V7? N 72 a I 62 /24 80 72 724 I l x20 INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. ANSON- ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,208,574 COIN-CONTROLLED COMPRESSED AIR DISPENSER William E. Anson, 26566 Palomino, Warren, Mich. Filed Feb. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 345,681 Claims. (Cl. 194-3) This invention relates to compressed gas dispensing apparatus and, in particular, to coin-controlled compressed air dispensers.

Hitherto, self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA) has necessitated the use of compressed air at high pressures in a tank or tanks carried on the back of the diver. The refilling of such tanks has been a serious problem with divers where an attendant was not present at the compressed air supply establishment. Accordingly, it has ordinarily been feasible to obtain refills only when the establishment was open for business and infeasible outside business hours. The present invention solves this problem by providing a coin-controlled compressed air dispenser which is instantly available at all hours.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a coin-controlled compressed air dispenser which is easily operated by the diver himself to refill his compressed air tanks merely by connected the tank to the apparatus in a simple and rapid way, opening the valve thereof and depositing a predetermined number of coins in the apparatus to accomplish the automatic filling of the tank or tanks.

Another object is to provide a coin-controlled compressed air dispenser of the foregoing character wherein the apparatus is automatically timed and pressure-responsive to refill a standard tank and which will halt automatically when the required filling has been accomplished.

Another object is to provide a coin-controlled compressed air dispenser of the foregoing character wherein the filling operation is automatically halted either upon the lapse of a predetermined time, or upon the attainment of a predetermined pressure in the tank being filled, whichever is first attained.

Another object is to provide a coin-controlled compressed air dispenser of the foregoing character wherein mechanism is arranged to automatically fill either one tank or a pair of tanks to a required pressure in response to the insertion of different predetermined numbers of coins.

Another object is to provide a coin-controlled compressed air dispenser of the foregoing character which is equipped with automatic means for filling a tank to a predetermined lower pressure or to a predetermined higher pressure automatically in response to the insertion of different predetermined numbers of coins.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, mainly in front elevation, of the coin-controlled compressed air dispenser of the present invention, showing its external appearance;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation on a slightly enlarged scale, showing diagrammatically the arrangement of the principal components of the coin-controlled compressed air dispenser within the housing thereof; and

FIGURE 3 is a wiring diagram of the electrical components and connections of the coin-controlled compressed air dispenser shown in FIGURES l and 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 1 and 2 show a coin-controlled compressed air dispenser, generally designated 10, according to one form of the invention as contained in a box-shaped housing 12, access to the interior of which is gained through a hinged front door 14 provided with a key-operated lock 16 for denying access to unauthorized persons. The top of the housing 12 is equipped with a canopy 18 for partial protection from the weather. The front door 14 is also provided with a window 20 through which an air pressure gauge 22 may be viewed. Also mounted on the front door and extending therethrough is a fill light unit 24 which shows when the dispenser is in operation, a pushbutton bleed switch 26 and the reciprocable coin receiver 28 of a coin-controlled switch 30. Also provided on the front door 14 of the housing 12 is a rectangular space 32 for the mounting of directions for use of the dispenser.

Mounted within the housing 12 on the rear wall thereof, in addition to the pressure gauge 22, is a main switch box 34 containing a main switch 36 and safety fuse 38, a fill timer 4d, a power relay 42, a stepping relay 44, a pressure switch unit 46, a solenoidal bleed valve 48, a solenoidal air dispensing valve 50, a check valve 52, and an air manifold 54 interconnecting the pressure switch unit 46, the solenoidal bleed valve 48 and the solenoidal air valve 50. Connected to the manifold 54 is a flexible air fill hose 56 which extends outside the housing 12 and at its outer end carries a fill yoke 58 with a thumb screw 60 by which the customers tank valve (not shown) is held against the compressed air outlet coupling 62. A compressed air supply conduit 64 leads from the solenoidal air valve 50 to an air compressor connection coupling 65 outside the housing 12. The coin-controlled switch 30 and the above-mentioned electrical components are conventional and available commercially.

The electrical circuit, generally designated 66 of the coin-controlled compressed air dispenser 10 is shown in FIGURE'3 and contains the foregoing electrical components together with their external and internal connections. The electric circuit 66 is energized from main current supply lines 68 and 70 which are in turn connected to the ordinary house lighting circuit and which ordinarily carry 1l0-volt 60-cycle alternating current. One of the main lines 68 is connected to the main switch 36 and safety fuse 38 located within the main switch box 34, and from these, the main line 72 cooperates with the main line 70 to energize the entire electric circuit 66 under the control of the main switch 36.

Running from the main line 72 to the coin-controlled switch 30 is a branch line 74 and from the coin switch 30 a branch line 76 runs to one side of the operating coil 78 of the stepping relay 44, from the other side of which the branch line 80 runs to the main line 70. From the main line 72, the branch line 82 runs to the bleed valve switch 26 from which the branch line 84 runs to one side of the stepping relay reset operating coil 86, from the other side of which the branch line 88 runs to the main line 70. From the branch line 34, a branch line 90 runs to one side of the bleed valve operating solenoid 92, from the other side of which the branch line 94 runs to the main line 7 0. From the main line 72, the branch line 96 runs to the switch terminal 98 of the movable switch blade 100 of the stepping relay 44, the switch blade 100 being responsive to each energization of the operating coil 78 to advance successively one step at each energization from an off contact 102 to outlet contacts 104, 106, 108, 110, 112 and 114, as explained below in connection with the operation of the invention.

Since the circuit 66 is to become energized in response to the insertion of a predetermined number of coins, let it be assumed that each coin is a quarter dollar and that the circuit is to be energized by the insertion of three quarters for a lower pressure refill or four quarters for a higher pressure refill. In accordance with that assumption and the first contact 102 being unenergized, from the fourth and fifth contacts 108 and 110 branch lines 116 and 118 run respectively to one side of each pressureresponsive switch 120 and 122, 120 being the lower pressure supply switch and 122 the higher pressure supply switch. The switches 120 and 122 are operated by the operating rod 124 connecting them to the pressure-responsive sylphon operating bellows or expansible chamber 126 from which the air pipe 128 runs to the manifold 54. From the opposite terminals of the pressureresponsive switches 120 and 122, the bifurcated branch line 130 runs to the first and second switch blade terminals 132 and 134 of the fill timer 40, when the branch line 136 runs to one side of the timer clutch solenoid 138. From the opposite sides of the clutch solenoid 138 and from one side of the timer motor 140, the bifurcated branch line 142 runs to the main line 70, completing the circuit.

The fill timer 40 is provided with first and second contacts 144 and 146 respectively controlled by the first timer switch blade 148 and third and fourth contacts 150 and 152 controlled by the second timer switch blade 154. The contacts 144 and 150 are off or unenergized contacts and the contacts 146 and 152 are energization contacts. The outlet contact 152 is connected by the branch line 156 to the opposite side of the timer motor 140 from the branch line 142, whereas the outlet contact 146 is connected by branch lines 158 and 160 to one side of the power relay operating coil 162 and fill light 24 respectively, from the opposite sides of which the branch lines 164 and 166 respectively run to the main line 70, completing the circuits.

From the main line 72, the branch line 168 runs to one side of the first power relay switch 170, from the opposite side of which the branch line 172 runs to the solenoid 174 of the solenoidal air valve 50 from the opposite side of which the branch line 176 runs to the main line 70, completing the air valve solenoid energization circuit. The energization of the air compressor motor 177 which supplies compressed air to the dispenser is controlled by power lines 178 and 180 running to opposite sides of the second power relay switch 182. The first and second power relay switches 170 and 182 are normally open, and are closed in response to the energization of the power relay operating coil 162 by the action of the fill timer 40.

In the operation of the coin-controlled compressed air dispenser 10, let it be assumed that electrical connections have been made as shown in the wiring diagram of FIGURE 3. To fill a tank, the customer inserts the tank connection in the fill yoke 58, tightens the screw 60 to tightly engage the outlet coupling 62 (FIGURE 2) and opens the valve of his tank. Let it be assumed that the pressure switch 46 has been set so that its first and second switch blades 120 and 122 deliver 1800 and 2200 pounds per square inch respectively before opening their respective circuits, and let it also be assumed that the customer wishes to charge a single tank to 1800 pounds per square inch and that the charge for so doing is 75 cents, requiring three quarter dollars.

Accordingly, the customer inserts a quarter dollar in the coin receiver 28 (FIGURE 1) and pushes it inward, thereby closing the coin-controlled switch 30. This action (FIGURE 3) closes the circuit of the stepping relay operating coil 78 thorugh the branch lines 74, 76 and 80, causing the relay switch blade to advance one step from the first or off contact 102 to the second contact 104. When he releases the coin receiver 28, it moves outward to open the coin-controlled switch 30. He then places a second coin in the coin receiver 28 and again pushes it inward. This action again closes the coincontrolled switch 30, re-energizing the stepping relay operating coil 78 and consequently advancing its switch blade 100 from the second contact 104 to the third contact 106. The consequent return of the coin receiver 28 outward again opens the coin-controlled switch 30. The customer then inserts his third coin in the coin receiver 28 and again pushes it inward, thereby again closing the coin-controlled switch 30 and energizing the operating coil 78 for the third time, consequently advancing the switch blade 100 from the third contact 106 to the fourth contact 108.

As soon as the stepping relay switch blade 100 engages the fourth contact 108, it closes the circuit from the main line 78 through the normally-closed pressure switch 46 to the timing motor 140, the timing clutch solenoid 138, the power relay operating coil 162 and the fill light 24. This energization takes place through the branch line 96, relay switch blade 100, branch line 116, normally closed pressure switch blade 120, and branch line 130, to the timer 40. From the branch line 130, the timing clutch solenoid 138 is energized through the branch lines 136 and 142 while the timing motor 140 is energized from the branch line through the second timing switch blade 154 and branch lines 156 and 142. The power relay operating coil 162 is energized from the branch line 130, first timing switch blade 148 and branch lines 158 and 164.

As a result of these energizations, the first and second power relay switches 170 and 182 are closed, energizing the air valve solenoid 174 to open the air dispensing valve 50 to the customers tank. At the same time, the closing of the lower power relay switch 182 closes the energization circuit for the compressor through the power lines 178 and 180. As a result, the compressor starts operating to deliver compressed air through the hose 56 to the outlet connection 62 (FIGURE 2) and thence into the customers tank, while at the same time the timing motor of the timer 40 starts running and consequently starts running the time period for which the timer 40 is set.

As the dispenser 10 operates in this manner and air pressure backs up into the sylphon bellows 126 of the pressure-responsive switch 46, and reaches 1800 pounds per square inch, the bellows 126 shifts the operating rod 122 to open the pressure switch blades 120 and 122. This action breaks the circuit between the branch lines 116 and 130, consequently de-energizing the timing motor 140, timing clutch solenoid 138 and power relay operating coil 162, consequently opening the first and second switches and 182 of the latter and halting the air compressor while closing the solenoidal air dispensing valve 50.

If, however, the timer 40 runs its course before the pressure reaches 1800 pounds per square inch in the operating bellows 126 of the pressure-responsive switch 46, the motor 140 opens the first and second timing switch blades 148 and 154, thereby de-energizing the power relay operating coil 162 and consequently de-energizing the dispensing air valve solenoid 174 and the air compressor in the manner described above, and likewise de-energizing the timing motor 140 and timing clutch solenoid 138. In either event, the dispensing of compressed air through the hose 56 ceases. The operator then presses and thus closes the pushbutton bleed switch 26 which energizes the stepping relay resetting coil 86 to return the switch blade 100 thereof to the first or off contact 102. The same action energizes the bleed solenoid 92 to open the solenoidal bleed valve 48 and release any compressed air remaining in the system.

If, on the other hand, the customer had desired to fill his tank to a pressure of 2200 pounds per square inch, he performs the above-described procedure, but successively inserts four quarter dollars in the coin receiver 28 instead of three, thereby advancing the stepping relay switch blade 104 to the fifth contact 110 of the stepping relay 44 instead of halting it at the fourth contact 108 thereof. This action energizes the branch line 130 from the pressure switch 46 through the second switch blade 122, delivering the higher pressure of 2200 pounds per square inch rather than through the first switch blade 120 which had delivered the lower pressure of 1800 pounds per square inch. The action is thenceforth the same, except that the pressure switch 46 does not open until the pressure of 2200 pounds per square inch has reached the pressure switch operating bellows 126 through the air pipe 128 to open the second switch blade 122 and consequently de-energize the electrical circuit 66 in the manner previously described.

If the customer has two tanks to fill instead of one, a single actuation of the dispenser will merely fill those two tanks to half the pressure desired for a single tank, because of the double volume introduced. To fully refill the two tanks therefore, the customer merely inserts twice the number of coins as are required for a single tank, namely six quarter dollars to fill two tanks to 1800 pounds pressure per square inch or eight to fill them to 2200 pounds per square inch. The remainder of the operation is the same as that described above.

To simplify the disclosure, the fill yoke 58 outside the housing 12 has been shown connected to the air dispens ing hose 56 projecting through the side wall of the housing 12. In FIGURE 2, the piping within the housing 12 and the wiring interconnecting the various electrical components have been omitted in order to simplify the showing, since this wiring has been shown in FIGURE 3.

What I claim is:

1. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser for controlling the energization of an electric-motor-driven air compressor, said dispenser comprising a housing,

a coin-controlled switch mounted on said housing,

a power relay having an operating coil and a first normally-open power switch closable in response to the energization of said operating coil and connected in energization-controlling relationship with the air compressor motor,

a normally-closed solenoidal air valve openable in response to the energization of said power relay operating coil,

an air dispensing coupling disposed externally of said housing,

an air dispensing conduit connecting said air valve to said dispensing coupling,

An air supply conduit having a supply coupling arranged for connection to the air compressor and communicating with said air dispensing conduit by way of said air valve,

a pressure-responsive switch having a normally-closed switch blade and having a motive device communicating with said air supply conduit and openable in response to the attainment of a predetermined pressure therein,

and a stepping relay having a stepping switch connected in energization controlling relationship with said power relay operating coil by way of said pressure-responsive switch,

said stepping relay having a stepping switch operating coil connected in energization-controlled relationship with said coin-controlled switch and responsive to a predetermined number of coin-actuated closings of said coin-controlled switch for shifting said stepping switch a corresponding number of steps into circuit-closing relationship with said power relay operating coil.

2. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein a normally-closed time-responsive switch is connected in series with said power relay operating coil, said time-responsive switch being responsive to the lapse of a predetermined time period following the energization of said power relay operating coil to de-ener- 'gize said power relay operating coil.

3. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein said power relay includes a second normally-open switch controlling the energization of said solenoidal air valve and operable concurrently with said first normally-open power switch by said power relay operating coil.

4. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein a normally-closed solenoidal bleed valve is connected in communication with said air supply conduit and has a bleed valve switch and an operating solenoid selectively -energized thereby for selectively releasing air from said air supply conduit.

5. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein said pressure-responsive switch has a second normally-closed switch openable in response to the attainment of a second predetermined pressure in said air supply conduit.

6. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein said stepping relay is provided with a stepping relay resetting coil operatively connected to said stepping switch in resetting relationship therewith and electrically connected in series with said bleed valve switch and operable in response to the closing of said bleed valve switch.

7. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a movable door, and wherein said coin-controlled switch is mounted on said door and has a coin receiver projecting externally thereof in operating relationship to said coin control switch.

8. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser, according to claim 7, wherein an air pressure gauge is mounted on said door in communication with one of said air conduits and visible externally of said door.

9. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser, according to claim 1, wherein a check valve is disposed in communication with said air valve on the opposite side thereof from said air supply conduit and opening in a direction toward said air valve.

10. A coin-controlled compressed air dispenser for controlling the energization of an electric-motor-driven air compressor, said dispenser comprising a housing,

a coin-controlled switch mounted on said housing,

a power relay having an operating coil and a first normally-open power switch closable in response to the energization of said operating coil and connected in energization-controlling relationship with the air compressor motor,

a normally-closed solenoidal air valve openable in response to the energization of said power relay operating coil,

an air dispensing coupling disposed externally of said housing,

an air dispensing conduit connecting said air valve to said dispensing coupling,

an air supply conduit having a supply coupling arranged for connection to the air compressor and communicating with said air dispensing conduit by way of said air valve,

a normally-closed time-responsive switch connected in series with said power relay operating coil and responsive to the lapse of a predetermined time period following the energization of said power relay operating coil to de-energize said power relay operating coil, and a stepping relay having a stepping switch connected in energization controlling relationship with said power relay operating coil by way of said timeresponsive switch,

said stepping relay having a stepping switch operating coil connected in energization-controlled responsive to a predetermined number of coinactuated closings of said coin-controlled switch for shifting said stepping switch a corresponding number of steps into circuit-closing relationship with said power relay operating coil.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,156,078 10/15 Holden et al 19482 2,855,926 10/58 Koppelman 128-203 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COIN-CONTROLLED COMPRESSED AIR DISPENSER FOR CONTROLLING THE ENERGIZATION OF AN ELECTRIC-MOTOR-DRIVEN AIR COMPRESSOR, SAID DISPENSER COMPRISING A HOUSING, A COIN-CONTROLLED SWITCH MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING, A POWER RELAY HAVING AN OPERATING COIL AND A FIRST NORMALLY-OPEN POWER SWITCH CLOSABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID OPERATING COIL AND CONNECTED IN ENERGIZATION-CONTROLLING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE AIR COMPRESSOR MOTOR, A NORMALLY-CLOSED SOLENOIDAL AIR VALVE OPENABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID POWER RELAY OPERATING COIL, AN AIR DISPENSING COUPLING DISPOSED EXTERNALLY OF SAID HOUSING, AN AIR DISPENSING CONDUIT CONNECTING SAID AIR VALVE TO SAID DISPENSING COUPLING, AN AIR SUPPLY CONDUIT HAVING A SUPPLY COUPLING ARRANGED FOR CONNECTION TO THE AIR COMPRESSOR AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID AIR DISPENSING CONDUIT BY WAY OF SAID AIR VALVE, AP RESSURE-RESPONSIVE SWITCH HAVING A NORMALLY-CLOSED SWITCH BLADE AND HAVING A MOTIVE DEVICE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID AIR SUPPLY CONDUIT AND OPENABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE ATTAINMENT OF A PREDETERMIZNED PRESSURE THEREIN, AND A STEPPING RELAY HAVING A STEPPING SWITCH CONNECTED IN ENERGIZATION CONTROLLING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID POWER RELAY OPERATING COIL BY WAY OF SAID PRESSURE-RESPONSIVE SWITCH, SAID STEPPING RELAY HAVING A STEPPING SWITCH OPERATING COIL CONNECTED IN ENERGIZATION-CONTROLLED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID COIN-CONTROLLED SWITCH AND RESPONSIVE TO A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF COIN-ACTUATED CLOSING OF SAID COIN-CONTROLLED SWITCH FOR SHIFTING SAID STEPPING SWITCH A CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF STEPS INTO CIRCUIT-CLOSING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID POWER RELAY OPERATING COIL. 